Virginia State Board of Elections Preparing for Sandy in Polling Places, Power Concerns

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Virginia State Board of Elections is advising local registrars to accommodate voters who ask to vote absentee because of the potential impact of Hurricane Sandy.

In-person absentee voting is being conducted on weekdays and the last two Saturdays before election day. The board is urging localities to keep registrar offices open and continue the in-person absentee voting unless the storm makes conditions unsafe for employees and voters.

Christine Lewis, senior registrar for Virginia Beach, said Saturday that polling places in the city have generators on standby in case power goes out. The city's information technology department also has provided two battery-pack units to power their laptops.

The state electoral board says it has been assured that polling places will be a high priority for power restoration.